Antonio Gracias
Antonio Gracias | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Investor, business executive |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Founder of Valor Equity Partners; board member of Tesla, Inc. and SpaceX |
Antonio Gracias is an American billionaire investor and business executive, recognized as the founder of Valor Equity Partners. He has held board positions at multiple companies supported by Valor, such as Tesla, Inc. and SpaceX. A close associate of Elon Musk for many years, Gracias attracted media coverage due to his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency. As of April 2025, Forbes values his net worth at approximately $2.2 billion.
Education
Gracias received both a BSFS and MSFS concentrating on international economics from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1993. His academic journey included studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, where he also completed a fellowship with Nikko Securities. Subsequently, he earned a JD degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1998.
By 2025, Gracias holds advisory roles on the boards of Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service as well as the University of Chicago’s board of trustees.
While attending law school, Gracias launched MG Capital, a private equity firm whose founding team eventually created Valor Equity Partners in 1995. Valor’s investment portfolio encompasses companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, Anduril Industries, Neuralink, Reddit, Eight Sleep, and Zipline (drone delivery company).
Valor has capitalized on Gracias’ close relationship with Elon Musk to secure entry into Musk-affiliated private enterprises, which has been instrumental to its expansion.
Department of Government Efficiency
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was initiated by executive order on Inauguration Day during the second presidency of Donald Trump, with Elon Musk appointed as its head. After initially participating part-time, Gracias joined the Social Security Administration in March 2025 to concentrate on DOGE’s initiatives aimed at reducing costs within the Social Security system. He exited DOGE in July 2025.
Political donations
In early 2025, Gracias contributed $1 million to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Donald Trump.